Do the 'poor matter’ in regional integration among SACU countries?

Woyo, Erisher ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0776-6645 and Tafirenyika, Blessing ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8140-5904 (2024) Do the 'poor matter’ in regional integration among SACU countries? Development Southern Africa. pp. 1-20. ISSN 0376-835X

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Abstract

This study examines the linkages between regional integration, poverty, and inequality reduction in the South African Customs Union. This was achieved by applying an econometric analytical technique to panel data on the five-member countries covering 2000–17. Results confirmed that regional integration is important in poverty and inequality reduction. This study has revealed that poverty can be reduced by increasing the levels of integration with other economies, increasing Human Development Indexfst and reducing inequalities. Therefore, these findings show that SACU governments’ commitment to enhancing each of these variables is critical in achieving zero or reduced poverty among member states.